Scrimping behind the scenes - with debt of £31,000!

Seasidegal58

Beginning of Scrimp Month 6, Week 1 and it’s pay day!:j

Hello all and special waves to moomin, crunchy, Verbatim and dobbi and thanks for your lovely posts.:hello:

I’m interested in your comment re. credit card interest Verbatim. Do you mean you can ask the credit card company to actually stop increasing it from 0% to whatever the normal rate is? Would you have to prove you were in dire straits and would it impact on your credit rating?

It’s the second month of my non-payment of monthly rail ticket cost so £303 has been transferred to MBNA 2 Card. :j However, the 0% periods on my Santander 2 Card and Barclaycard 2 are coming off in just under a week’s time (£1,009.05 at 21.9% and £835.03 at £17.9% respectively) so I will have to concentrate on Santander 2 now (hurry up Sainsbury card!).

Been looking through the calendar for the next month and have got a few things going on so will need to really scrimp on the other days, i.e. :

• Have a day out with DD next week –already have exhibition and film/concert tickets, but will be eating out.
• Dinner at my friend’s so wine and choccies to buy to take along;
• Ballet in a couple of weeks’ time – DD has treated me to the tickets, but will have a full day out here.
• Theatre trip for my sister’s birthday – I’ve bought the tickets but will be buying her dinner as well.
• Two birthdays for friends coming up - £10 each will be spent.

Today I bought my sister’s birthday card and some stamps (birthday budget) – on ad hoc spends bought newspaper and shower gel (500g of Dove for half price at £2.19!).

AND…I have to buy a cake tomorrow! A few of us at work have been asked to a bring in a cake to sell slices for elevenses in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Great British Coffee Morning. The only thing is we were asked to bake it as well as bring it in! Well I gave my baking equipment away a few years ago when I moved into my flat and had to downsize on quite a few things, and to be honest have never really baked much since DD left home. I’d only eat them all myself if I baked my own cakes so I just buy them whenever I’ve needed them for company. And even watching Great British Bake Off has not drummed up any enthusiasm! So I have been granted a dispensation and will be providing a nice M&S one instead!:D

Seasidegal58

Well the cheat cake cost £5.79 but was worth it as it was bought for a good cause!

The ticket dates for my return journey from DD's in December were announced today so I bagged another free first class ticket through the rail company's rewards scheme! That's most of my points gone now so back to buying the tickets for a while.

Apart from the cake and paper, nothing else spent today

catriona79

Well done Seasidegal. That's a great result!!!

And a bit of a spend on a good cause is even better!

Hope that you get to swap your two cards for a 0% card. Why are Sainsbury's taking their time, have you rung them?

Thank goodness it's Friday x

Seasidegal58

Hi Catriona - I think having to send in proof of ID to Sainsburys has slowed things down. In their last letter to me which I received last week they said I would hear between four to ten working days so still in that timeframe. Perhaps I'll get a nice surprise in the post tomorrow!

Verbatim

Hi SG
Re rejecting cc rate hikes see Martin's guide. Card at the top of the page then rate jacking step 3 I think.
I am really enjoying reading about your successes. I love your detrrmination to have a good time while reducing the debt. Very positive and you're doing so well.:j:j

Seasidegal58

Thanks Verbatim - I'll take a look :A

No card in post yesterday.

BUT....a NSD yesterday and just the Sunday paper today!

However my friend rang me yesterday as there is a "ladies only" trip being organised next April to celebrate another friend's significant birthday. It's going to be a two nighter to watch The Grand National at Aintree amongst other festivities. £100 mentioned initially though she was rushing out so I'll touch base with her later to see what this covers. - though I know there'll be more to add! I can see another category being added to YNAB - "The Grand National Fund".

Igamogam

Verbatim wrote: »

Hi SG
Re rejecting cc rate hikes see Martin's guide. Card at the top of the page then rate jacking step 3 I think.

Dont think it applies to promo rates .....but I may be wrong.

Verbatim

Igamogam wrote: »

Dont think it applies to promo rates .....but I may be wrong.

You're probably right I. just a thought.

Seasidegal58

Thanks guys - I had a look and I think it really applies to those who are having trouble paying their minimum payments.

This morning I'm at home at the moment but meeting up with DD later to visit exhibition and then onto film /concert this evening.

I received the Sainsbury 's card :j. So I've cleared MBNA 2 and Santander 2 and will be concentrating on Barclaycard 2 next.

I spoke to my pal with regard to the birthday trip next April and as I thought, once hotel, train and racecourse ticket had been combined it's working out c.£250. So over 6 months that's just under £46 per month. I've got £170 to pay next week though and most of this will have to be borrowed from the Xmas fund and reimbursed. I'll start putting some extra away for actual spending money in the New Year.

Verbatim

Fantastic news about the card. And great to have an advance funded holiday to look forward to.